Toothbrush

ABSTRACT

A toothbrush having a single row of tufts spaced along the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush so as to minimize interference between adjacent tufts as the tufts are deflected during the brushing operation.

o In I a 1 Muted States ate 1 [1 1 3,731,336 Rubin 1 May 8, 1973 [54] TOOTHBRUSH FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS lnvenwrr James Rubin, 141 West 17th 672,709 9 1929 France ....15/167 R t New York, NY 10011 88,569 1/1967 France ....15/l67 R 592,757 2 1934 Gennany ...l5/l67 R [22] May 1971 471,387 9 1937 Great Britain ..l5/l67 R 211 Appl. No.: 139,471

Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman 52 u.s Cl. ..l5/167 R AmmeY-Bmm, Friedman KaPlan [5 l] Int. Cl. ..A46b 9/04 [58] Field of Search ..l5/l67 R, 110, I06 1 ABSTRACT A toothbrush having a single row of tufts spaced along [56] References Cited the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush so as to UNITED STATES PATENTS minimize interference between adjacent tufts as the tufts are deflected during the brushing operation. 2,242,743 5/1941 Brown ..l5/l67 R 3,010,131 11/1961 Kisky ..l5/I67 R 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED 8 INVENTOR. JAMES M. RUBIN ATTORN YS TOOTHBRUSH BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a toothbrush of novel construction. While toothbrushes are well known in the art, most prior art toothbrushes are composed of a plurality of tufts of bristles closely spaced or aligned resulting in mutual interference between tufts and bristles when the toothbrush is in use.

The mutual interference resulting from deflection of the plurality of tufts and bristles has the effect of deflecting bristles away from desired areas of the mouth to be brushed. The mutual interference or deflection of the bristles often has the result that only exposed surfaces are contacted by the bristles and hard to reach or recessed surfaces remain untouched thereby grossly defeating the principal purposes of oral hygiene.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Generally speaking, in accordance with the invention, an improved brush is provided composed of a single row of tufts so arranged as to minimize mutual interference between the tufts and the bristles. With the mutual interference eliminated, the individual bristles may be brought into engagement with surfaces that are normally inaccessible to brushes of known constructions.

For example, a brush constructed in accordance with the teachings of the invention can be used to brush closely around projecting orthodontic brackets and appliances. Also, the tufts are isolated from one another so that an individual tuft or the component bristles can reach in-terproximal surfaces. The ability of the tufts and bristles to reach recessed or hidden surfaces is the result of the non-interference of one tuft with respect to an adjacent tuft even when one or both of the tufts is deflected.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a toothbrush of improved construction resulting in greater efficiency during use, especially with regard to hard to reach surfaces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved toothbrush having a series of tufts which, when deflected, minimize mutual interference.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toothbrush wherein the tufts are effectively located in a single row.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification and drawings.

The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the operative portion of a toothbrush constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is aside'elevational view of FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the usual base of a toothbrush is indicated generally at 11. Currently, most bases and the integrally molded handles are formed of plastic. However, the particular material and the configuration or shape of the base is of no significance as the primary purpose of the base ismerely to hold the bristles.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the tufts are indicated at 12 with each tuft being formed of a plurality of individual bristles as is known in the art. The individual bristles may be of natural or synthetic fiber and a plurality in the form of a bundle form each tuft. One end of the tuft is secured by any suitable means in the base 11 and the opposite end extends freely outwardly and may be trimmed as desired.

The toothbrush disclosed herein is considered to have a single row of tufts in that a single line can be drawn through the center of each tuft with the line continuously traveling in a longitudinal direction. In other words, the drawing of a line through the centers of the tufts will always travel in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the toothbrush. However, the line must not be straight since, in order to provide sufficient spacing to avoid interference, the tufts would be so spaced as to effectively reduce the cleaning effect. Furthermore, the tufts must be located at at least two transverse positions in order for effective cleaning of buccal as well as interproximal surfaces.

The longitudinal axis of the brush is indicated generally at 14. A plurality of transverse axes are shown at 15. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, tufts 12 are located so that each adjacent pair of tufts meets two parameters. The first parameter is that, of each pair, one be positioned on one side of longitudinal axis 14 and the other be positioned on the opposite side of longitudinal axis 14. A subsidiary parameter which applies to FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the tufts are tangent longitudinal axis 14.

The second parameter of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that each adjacent pair is located on an opposite side of a transverse axis 15. Again, with respect to FIG. 1, a subsidiary parameter is that each adjacent pair of tufts is tangential to the intermediate transverse axis.

The location of the center of the tuft on the opposite side of a transversely extending axis with respect to the next adjacent tuft in the longitudinal direction is a critical parameter. It is also critical that any adjacent pair of tufts have at least their centers on opposite sides of an intermediate transverse axis.

The embodiment of FIG. 1 qualifies in meeting the two critical parameters in that any adjacent pair of tufts is separated by a longitudinal axis 14 as well as by a Ion 5 gitudinal axis 15. The toothbrush of FIG. 1 is further defined by the fact that each tuft is tangent the axis which separates it from an adjacent tuft, whether longitudinal or transverse.

The embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 also meet the critical parameters. The transverse axes are indicated while the longitudinal axis is represented by a wavy line 14' rather than a straight line. The purpose of this is to demonstrate in what manner the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 meet the critical parameter. Note that each adjacent tuft 12 is disposed on an opposite side of longitudinal axis 14 and each adjacent tuft is likewise located on an opposite side of the transverse axis 15 which separates it from the tufts on either side. However, contrary to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 5 shows the tufts as being spaced from the longitudinal and the transverse axes which separate adjacent pairs. Thus, for example, two adjacent tufts 12 are separated from an intermediate transverse axis 15 in that they are not tangential to the transverse axis. Each adjacent pair of tufts is also spaced from a longitudinal axis as demonstrated by the fact that a tangential line can be drawn between the adjacent tufts in a longitudinal direction only by drawing the line as a wavy line 14'. However, it should be noted that a single line could be drawn thru the centers of all tufts in a longitudinal direction without having any segment of the line generated in a direction parallel to a transverse axis. It is the capability of drawing a single line through the centers of all tufts which distinguishes the invention over the prior art and aids in the creation of a toothbrush having improved benefits when in use.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein adjacent tufts 12 are spaced on opposite sides of the transverse axis 15. The centers of adjacent tufts are also spaced on opposite sides of Iongitudinal axis 14 even though the axis passes through a portion of each tuft. Despite the fact that longitudinal axis 14 passes through a portion of each tuft, it will be seen that a single line can be drawn through the centers of all the tufts without the line having a segment parallel to the transverse axis.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, a preferred dimensional relationship between adjacent tufts is also shown. A tuft has a diameter D and adjacent tufts are separated by the spacing S. It is preferred that the tufts be separated by distance such that S is equal to or greater than D. In other words, the spacing between adjacent tufts taken, of course, along a line drawn through their centers, is at least as great as the diameter of the tuft.

Utilizing the constructions hereinabove described, it has been found that greater efficiency in operation results during brushing. Using commonly available toothbrushes, the interference between the bristles often prevents the bristles from reaching interproximal, hard to reach surfaces as well as surfaces made difficult to reach by the presence of orthodontic apparatus. With a brush designed in accordance with the invention herein, cleaning of hard to reach surfaces is effectively accomplished without the sacrifice of the cleaning of easier to reach surfaces. Also, greater effectiveness in gum stimulation results from the capability of the bristle reaching interproximal surfaces and thus the gum within such interproximal surfaces.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made apparent from the preceding description, are efficiently attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above article without departin from the spirit and scope of the invention, it is rnten ed that all matter contained III the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

What is claimed is:

l. A toothbrush comprising a base and a plurality of tufts mounted in said base and extending therefrom, said base having a longitudinal axis and transverse axes, each adjacent pair of tufts having at least the center of each spaced on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, all said tufts extending generally perpendicularly to said base and being positioned serially along said longitudinal axis, whereby a continuous line drawn through the centers of all tufts extends in a longitudinal direction with no segment of the line being parallel to a transverse axis.

2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is tangential said longitudinal axis.

3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is tangential a transverse axis.

4. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is spaced from said longitudinal 'axis. i

5. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is spaced from a transverse axis.

6; A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis passes through a portion of each tuft.

7. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein each tuft has an outside diameter of a dimension, the distance between the outside diameter of an adjacent pair of tufts taken along a line drawn through their centers is at least as great as said dimension.

* IIK 

1. A toothbrush comprising a base and a plurality of tufts mounted in said base and extending therefrom, said base having a longitudinal axis and transverse axes, each adjacent pair of tufts having at least the center of each spaced on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, all said tufts extending generally perpendicularly to said base and being positioned serially along said longitudinal axis, whereby a continuous line drawn through the centers of all tufts extends in a longitudinal direction with no segment of the line being parallel to a transverse axis.
 2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is tangential said longitudinal axis.
 3. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is tangential a transverse axis.
 4. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is spaced from said longitudinal axis.
 5. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outside diameter of each tuft is spaCed from a transverse axis.
 6. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein said longitudinal axis passes through a portion of each tuft.
 7. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1 wherein each tuft has an outside diameter of a dimension, the distance between the outside diameter of an adjacent pair of tufts taken along a line drawn through their centers is at least as great as said dimension. 